Things We Do In The Dark Review

Author Jennifer Hillier

Genre: Suspense Thriller

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: July 19, 2022

Order Link: Amazon

3 Hearts

Special thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc.

Review published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

A brilliant new thriller from Jennifer Hillier, the award-winning author of the breakout novels Little Secrets and Jar of Hearts. Paris Peralta is suspected of killing her celebrity husband, and her long-hidden past now threatens to destroy her future.

Review:

Things We Do In The Dark is a multilayered, complex thriller delivered through multiple points of view in a past/present story line.  Per Hillier's now signature style, characters are deeply complex and plot lines are convoluted.  At least three story lines appear to run concurrent through much of the story before finally being woven together with some major revelations by the end.  

This story opens with an intense scene that quickly grabs readers' attention when Paris Peralta awakens on the floor of her upscale bathroom holding a bloody straight razor and staring at an armed police officer yelling at her to drop the weapon.  Paris is confused and disoriented, but there's no denying the horrific fact that her celebrity husband Jimmy is dead in the bloody bathtub.  What happened?  As bad as it looks, Paris fears it'll get worse when the devastating news and pictures hit the national tabloids and newspapers.  If someone from her past recognizes her, the carefully constructed facade she's been living for twenty-five years will be blown.  She can't afford for her past to catch up with her.

The story continues with the introduction of Ruby Reyes aka the Ice Queen who’s being released from prison after serving 25 years for the murder of a man.  She’s fully aware of Paris's real identity and is using the information to threaten and blackmail Paris.  The clock's ticking down to a full blown confrontation when Paris's location hits the news.  And finally, we have Drew Malcolm - a journalist with a wildly popular podcast called Things We Do In The Dark.  He's fully aware of how cruel and evil Ruby Reyes is and doesn't believe for a minute that she's been rehabilitated. Drew is determined to expose her for the villain he knows her to be at all costs.  Maybe if he can do that, he'll be able to silence his own demons and finally lay the past to rest.

All the elements of a perfect storm are present in Hillier's Things We Do In The Dark.  Readers are quickly sucked into the opening and through past/present chapters, they learn the backstory of each main player and the events that tie them together.  They listen to each character's voice and are charged with deciding whose version of the story is authentic.  As the story progresses, the author does a great job weaving in a missing person case, building suspense while rehashing the events of one tragic night twenty five years ago.  In doing so, she's set up her game board with all the players including their secrets and motivations.  However, there comes a point where the backstory begins to overshadow the present and the repetitiveness slows the story to a crawl, and in this reader's opinion, the end result comes dangerously close to disclosing information better left for readers to discover on their own.  It's at this point that I had an Aha moment with the realization of exactly where this story was headed which proved to be true, serving to diminish the mystery and suspense there on out for me.  As the story continues, the pace picks back up and readers will enjoy some typical Hillier twists before the final reveal.  

Hillier's characters are always dimensional, well-developed, dark and deeply troubled and the same holds true in Things We Do In The Dark.  She brilliantly manipulates these characters through dark, convoluted plot lines in settings that add to the dark, ominous tone.  While Things We Do In The Dark won't go down as my favorite work of Hillier's, she continues to be one of my favorite, extremely talented authors, and I look forward to more of her work.  I'm recommending this book to fans of dark, suspense thrillers.

 Synopsis:

When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom – covered in blood, holding a straight razor, her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her – she knows she'll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it's not what worries her the most. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it's only a matter of time before someone from her long hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she's worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen, was convicted of a similar murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early nineties. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she's unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to expose all of Paris's secrets. Left with no other choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped, once and for all.

Because the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges.

Loser Baby Review

Author Jason Bovberg

Genre: Noir

Publisher: Dark Highway Press

Release Date: August 2, 2021

3 Hearts

Many thanks to the author for an arc.

LOSER BABY is a propulsive blast through the streets of the SoCal melting pot, a breakneck dark-comic neo-noir populated by misfits and malefactors, criminals and innocents, down-and-outers and spun-out dreamers. Prepare yourself for an adrenaline rush of rat-a-tat he-said-she-said narrative twists—all in service of a giddily slam-bang shock ending.

Review:

Twins Jasmine and Jordan Frank escaped an abusive home altering birth certificates to pass themselves off as older.  Living together in a tiny apartment in Santa Ana, California, they keep mostly to themselves.  Jordan appoints himself as protector of his beautiful sister and attempts to keep her out of trouble.  After accepting an invitation to a party, Jordan awakens to find Jasmine missing.  The party was a wild freak show of designer drugs.  He knows he was dosed with some type drug that knocked him out for the night to separate him from his twin sister.  He panics and begins a search to find her.  Jasmine comes to on the side of the road outside an In-and-Out Burger joint.  She has no recollection of what happened, but she does recognize that she's in serious trouble.  She's in possession of something that belongs to a dangerous man.  What does she do and where does she go from here?

Loser Baby is a convoluted, crazy ride with a cast of losers.  Points of view change with each chapter allowing readers to get the story and history of a wild collective group of characters.  While it's an interesting concept, it's also confusing and quite graphic in language.  The story unfolds over one day in Orange County in pages of insane confrontations and chases.  There is no good guy riding in on a white horse in this one.  Each character is severely flawed with questionable morals.  Bovberg tells the "other" side of the story of golden California - the overlooked, down on their luck, underpaid, just trying to survive ordinary people.  These characters aren't likable, but they're real. However, at some point, it all becomes overwhelming in the sheer volume of people and their lives.  I feel like the end result are some character and plot lines left dangling.  Having said that, Loser Baby is unique - a one of a kind type crime fiction that I won't soon forget.  

Synopsis:

Jasmine Frank is missing.

It’s a humid summer morning in Santa Ana, California, and her twin brother Jordan abruptly finds himself on a desperate search—fearing the worst. The party last night got way out of hand, and his brain is still chemically fried. But this is Jasmine’s story. She’s awakened far from home to her own mystery: She’s unwittingly stolen something from the most dangerous person she’s ever known. Tommy Strafe. And now Tommy is raging through the sunbaked streets, gathering illicit forces to seek brutal retribution. But all Jasmine really wants is to get out of Orange County, escape her past, and find a measure of redemption.

LOSER BABY is a propulsive blast through the streets of the SoCal melting pot, a breakneck dark-comic neo-noir populated by misfits and malefactors, criminals and innocents, down-and-outers and spun-out dreamers. Prepare yourself for an adrenaline rush of rat-a-tat he-said-she-said narrative twists—all in service of a giddily slam-bang shock ending.

The Hidden One Review

 

Author: Linda Castillo

Series: Kate Burkholder #14

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: July 5, 2022

Order Link: Amazon

4.5 Hearts

Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book

The discovery of a missing Amish bishop's remains leads chief of police Kate Burkholder to unearth a chilling secret in The Hidden One, a new thriller from bestselling author Linda Castillo.

Review:

In The Hidden One, readers get insight into Police Chief Kate Burkholder's youth - her time as a young Amish teen.  She leaves Tomasetti and the crew behind and travels to Pennsylvania where she grew up to offer her help to the boy, now a man, who broke her heart when he abruptly moved away.  Kate's always carried guilt over her role in his leaving town so when the elders of his community request her help in clearing him of a murder charge, she is compelled to answer the call.  Jonas Bowman's bishop's skeletal remains have been discovered eighteen years after he disappeared.  Evidence is stacking up against Jonas; however, Kate knows the boy she knew and once thought she loved would not commit murder.  She isn't as clear about the possible deeds of the grown man.  Since she has no jurisdiction there, she begins investigating on her own as a regular citizen.  Unfortunately, local law enforcement do not welcome her into their fold and refuse to share information - especially with the ex-Amish police chief of Painter's Mill.  Kate finds herself shut out every way she turns; however, it doesn't take her long to discover that the bishop had a sadistic streak and more than one person had reason to want him dead.  It's soon clear she's making some people extremely nervous with her investigation.  The closer she gets to some real answers, the more desperate someone becomes.

While I am not up to date in this series, I had no issues stepping ahead into this book.  Castillo provides excellent backstory.  I enjoyed the fact that this episode takes place out of Painter's Mill, carrying us back to Kate's childhood for some intriguing revelations.  Readers get insight into Kate as a teenager and watch as she confronts and works through past issues that will surely have impact on her future. The intense memories she shares with readers are extremely emotional and gut-wrenching.  This truly feels like a turning point for Kate and the series.  

The mystery of who done it is not an easy one to figure out in this story, and it kept me guessing and changing my mind until the end.  The dark atmospheric setting and tone are prevalent as always with Castillo's signature dimensional characters and complex plot line.  Every twist and turn in this tense thriller proves to be dangerous and life-threatening to Kate. I found The Hidden One to be a multi-layered, complex suspense thriller that I highly recommend to fans of the series and thrillers.  Outstanding characterization, plotting and delivery.  This one is not to be missed.  July 2023 and the next installment can't come soon enough!

Synopsis:

Over a decade ago, beloved Amish bishop Ananias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. The mystery of what happened to the kind old man has troubled his community for years. When skeletal remains showing evidence of foul play are unearthed and linked to the bishop, his disappearance becomes even more sinister.

Unhappy with the local investigation, Amish elders arrive in Painters Mill and ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. Realizing she has a personal connection to the crime, Kate travels to Pennsylvania’s Kishacoquillas Valley, an isolated area where the Amish culture differs dramatically from the traditions in which she was raised. Kate learns that Stoltzfus was charismatic and highly respected, but she soon begins to hear other things, too: that there was something ‘off’ about the bishop. He sometimes seemed unfamiliar with the local culture, and kept quiet about his past. Did this kindly old man have something to hide?

Someone doesn’t want Kate asking those questions. But even after being accosted and threatened in the dead of night, Kate refuses to back down. When an Amish woman with ties to the bishop turns up dead, the investigation reaches a boiling point. There’s a killer in the Valley who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Will they get to Kate before she can expose the truth? Or will the bishop’s secrets remain hidden forever? 

Grace Under Fire Book Tour, Review & Excerpt

Author: Julie Garwood

Series: Buchanan-Renard-McKenna #14

Genre: Contemporary Suspense

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: July 19, 2022

Order Link: Amazon

4 Hearts

Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for a copy of this arc and invitation to join this book tour.  Scroll to bottom to read an excerpt of Grace Under Fire.

A Navy SEAL will need every bit of his extensive skill set when he appoints himself as bodyguard to a woman determined not to need one in this thrilling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.

Review:

Grace Isabel MacKenna is headed to Scotland to claim an inheritance from a distant uncle when she stops off in Boston to attend the Buchanan’s anniversary party.  Isabel's sister Kate is married to Dylan Buchanan who is brother to the very sexy, irritating Michael Buchanan, a man she avoids at all cost.  They met briefly at Kate and Dylan's wedding and in Isabel's eyes, he treated her like she had the plague.  Well, two can play that game!  Isabel has some time on her hands so she's absentmindedly wandering around Boston when she finds herself caught up in a shootout . . . and she ends up killing a man in order to save another.  Well dang.  That wasn't on her agenda for the day.  Now she's being questioned by the police and much to her chagrin, the Buchanan family has sent ex-SEAL and lawyer Michael Buchanan to protect and represent her.  And there he stands in all his broody, sexual glory, glaring at her.  Could this day get any worse?  Apparently so when it becomes clear Isabel is a target.  Now why in the world would anyone want sweet, shy, petite Isabel MacKenna dead?  And why has her nemesis Michael appointed himself as her protector?  Let the games begin.

Julie Garwood has rendered another fast paced, impossible to put down addition to the Buchanan-Renard-and now McKenna series.  Grace Under Fire is book fourteen, but can absolutely be read as a standalone which I can attest to.  However, I can say with certainty that I will be backing up and starting this series from book one in order to meet and get to know this family from the beginning.  The sexual tension and banter between Isabel and Michael are off the charts as is the humorous dialogue - it's priceless.  Yes, this book is romance suspense, but the crazy family dynamics and continued chaos and insane scenes make it a laugh out loud story also.  What a combo!  I enjoyed every single page of Grace Under Fire and was actually sorry to see it end.  Highly recommended to fans of romance suspense and good, humorous romance.  

Synopsis:

Grace Isabel MacKenna had a hundred things to do today. Killing someone wasn’t one of them. It was supposed to be a quick visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party, then on to Scotland to collect an inheritance. She checks into the hotel and then decides to go for a brisk walk. But after getting lost she ends up with a wounded man stumbling into her arms, and then his shooter coming after them both. When she fires back in self-defense, she doesn’t expect him to drop dead. Thanks to the Buchanans dispatching Navy SEAL and now a lawyer Michael Buchanan to help her deal with the police, Isabel endures hours of interrogation and is finally free to go.

Isabel knows she should be grateful for Michael’s help, but since she’s harbored an extreme dislike for him for years, gratitude is difficult to muster. Michael has appointed himself her de facto guardian, and she’s stuck with him despite their constant bickering and sizzling attraction. Even when Isabel goes to Scotland to claim her inheritance, Michael follows her, but he isn’t the only thing she can’t shake. Mysterious threats against Isabel surface, and before they can deal with their growing feelings for each other, Michael and Isabel must first survive.

http://www.juliegarwood.com

With more than 35 million books in print and 26 NEW YORK TIMES bestsellers, Julie Garwood has earned a position among America's favorite fiction writers.

Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, Ms. Garwood attributes much of her success to growing up in a large family of Irish heritage. "The Irish are great storytellers who relish getting all of the details and nuances of every situation. Add in the fact that I was the sixth of seven children. Early in life, I learned that self expression had to be forceful, imaginative, and quick," says Ms. Garwood.

She began her writing career when the youngest of her three children entered school. After the publications of two young-adult books, she turned her talents to historical fiction. Her first novel, GENTLE WARRIOR, was published by Pocket Books in 1985. Since then, she has branched into other genres including contemporary romantic suspense. Today, her name appears regularly on the bestseller lists of every major publication in the country, and her books are translated into dozens of languages around the world. Her bestselling novel FOR THE ROSES was adapted for the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME television movie ROSE HILL.

Ms. Garwood lives in Leawood, KS and is currently working on her next novel.

GRACE UNDER FIRE by Julie Garwood

Berkley Hardcover | On sale July 19, 2022

Excerpt

 

 

Chapter One

 

Isabel MacKenna had a hundred things to do today. Killing someone wasn't one of them.

 

She had such high hopes this morning when she dragged herself out of bed at the ungodly hour of five a.m. She had made detailed plans for the day that lay ahead, and she would have sailed through them if two unfortunate incidents hadn't waylaid her. The first was an irritating inconvenience; the second, a terrifying nightmare.

 

Scheduled to take an early flight on a no-frills, but supercheap airline to Boston, she arrived at the airport in plenty of time to go through security. She was dressed for comfort in a pair of snug jeans and a light pink T-shirt. Her long blond hair was up in a ponytail, and she wore a Red Sox baseball cap her brother-in-law, Dylan, had given her. She checked her luggage, which was packed for a trip to Scotland the following week, and carried her backpack that held everything she would need for the next few days. It was so stuffed she was pretty sure it weighed more than she did. The first time she attempted to swing it over her shoulder she nearly did a backflip. Fortunately, once she was on the plane, another passenger helped her lift it into the overhead compartment.

 

She had been assigned a window seat, and she planned to go to sleep as soon as the plane took off. In hindsight, perhaps her expectations were naive. From past experience she had learned that there was never anything smooth or easy about flying, and today was no exception. Once she boarded, she was trapped, and a flight that should have taken a little under three hours ended up taking seven and a half, thanks to the fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants airline and the mechanical problems they were sure maintenance could fix in no time at all. The captain made the passengers sit on the plane for two full hours before they were allowed to go back into the terminal to continue their wait while repairs were completed. After another grueling hour passed, they were told a relief plane was being flown in to take them to Boston. Apparently, the fix-it-in-no-time-at-all plane couldn't be fixed.

 

It was a miserable flight. It began with Isabel plastered up against the window while two overly friendly college students in the seats next to her took turns hitting on her. They seemed to be in some sort of competition to hold her attention and get her phone number. One was in his seventh year at a college in Arizona. In the course of his monologue he sheepishly admitted he still didn't have enough credits to graduate. The other one was in his third year at Colorado State and had changed his major so many times he couldn't remember what it now was. Isabel thought maybe there was a little something extra baked into the cookies he was munching on. She was pretty sure he was stoned.

 

Being polite to the nonstop talkers took effort, for exhaustion was pressing down on her . . . and no wonder. She had gotten only three hours of sleep the night before, and the last several weeks had been brutal, with papers due and finals to study for, not to mention packing up almost everything she owned and shipping it back home to Silver Springs, South Carolina, leaving only some of her clothes and personal items. Finally, graduation. She had hoped both of her sisters would be there for the ceremony, but Kiera, the older of the two, was in the middle of a demanding medical residency and couldn't take time off from work to attend. Her other sister, Kate, and her husband, Dylan, were there to see her walk across the stage and get her diploma. She was on her way now to meet them at Nathan's Bay, Dylan's family home just outside Boston. Judge and Mrs. Buchanan, Dylan's parents, were celebrating their anniversary, and their big family was gathering for the occasion. Isabel was happy to be invited to the festivities. The Buchanans were so warm and welcoming, and she looked forward to a week of fun and relaxation.

 

Then she and Kate were off to Scotland to see Glen MacKenna, the property she would soon inherit from her crusty and-she had it on good authority-horribly mean great-uncle. The land was located in the Highlands, and Isabel was anxious to see it. Kate and Dylan had given her the trip as a graduation present.

 

After she returned from Scotland, her plans were uncertain. Maybe the trip would give her some insight into what her future would be.

 

Once the plane was in flight to Boston and the incessant chattering of her seatmates had died down, Isabel rested her head against the porthole window. She was feeling horrible. She had thrown up-a couple of times, as a matter of fact-as soon as she'd rolled out of bed, and now her head was pounding. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the drummer banging away on the inside of her eyelids wouldn't let up.

 

Holy Chow Review

Author David Rosenfelt

Series: Andy Carpenter #25

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: July 5, 2022

Order Link: amazon

Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book.

In the next mystery from bestselling author David Rosenfelt, the beloved characters—both human and canine—of this fan favorite series are back on the case with the author’s trademark wit and humor.

Review:

Holy Chow is book number twenty five in the Andy Carpenter Series . . . and the first one I've ever read!  Talk about being late to the game!  However, I'm delighted to say that this book stands completely alone with enough backstory for me to step into it and immediately fall in love with the man and his rescue group for dogs.  

In Holy Chow, a woman is discovered dead who owns a big Chow named "Lion" acquired from Andy's dog rescue, the Tara Foundation.  She recently reached out to Andy to let him know that if she died and her stepson Tony doesn't want the dog, her wishes are for Andy to take Lion back.  Andy attends the reading of the will and learns Tony, her stepson loves Lion and will be happy to take the dog. The only fly in the ointment is that police are arresting Tony for her murder.  Andy agrees to represent Tony because he believes he's innocent and when he starts looking into Rachel's late husband's business, something is definitely off-kilter.  As Andy digs deeper, it's clear he's making someone very nervous. 

Holy Chow  strikes me as a crossover between a cozy and legal mystery thriller.  I quickly fell in love with Andy's wry sense of self-deprecating humor and enjoyed the banter between cast members who many will recognize as old favorites.  Excellent writing, characterization and plotting make for easy but intriguing reading.  Being new to the series, I was surprised to realize that the dog, Lion, isn't the star of the show so to speak, but more of a pawn that draws Andy out of retirement and into the limelight and shines a bright light on the world of rescues.  Holy Chow is an entertaining story with an interesting mystery and a lot of laughs.  I highly recommend it to fans of lighter mysteries with a big dose of humor.

Synopsis:

Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter’s calling has always been running the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization places hundreds of dogs in new homes every year. It’s added up to so many dogs and new owners that Andy can’t even do the math. But there’s one dog—and one owner—Andy will always remember.

Remember Love Book Tour, Review & Excerpt

 

Author Mary Balogh

Series: Ravenswood #1

Genre: Regency Romance

Author: Berkley

Release Date: July 12, 2022

Order Link: Amazon

4 Hearts

Special thanks to Berkley for an arc of this book and for the invitation to join this book tour.  An excerpt of this book can be read below.

The undisputed queen of Regency romance is back with a brand-new story perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

Review:

Devlin Ware, son of the Earl of Stratton Caleb Ware, idolizes his family especially the relationship of his loving mother and father.  His happy, much loved family share their ancestral home Ravenswood with the small town, and are happy to use its grounds and facilities for town events such as festivals and balls.  At one such event, Devlin finally declares his true feelings to neighbor Gwynette Rhys and is happy to learn she feels the same.  He'll speak to her father in the morning and ask for her hand.  Sadly, this wasn't to be as Devlin's perfect world is shattered that same night when he happens upon his father in a compromising situation with a town widow.  Unwilling to sweep it under the rug, Devlin causes a scene that embarrasses his family resulting in his mother sending him away.  Not understanding, Devlin leaves and doesn't return for six long years.  The Earl is dead and Devlin must return and take his place as head of household.  What he discovers upon his return shocks and saddens him, but is it enough to melt his hardened heart?  Will his family accept and welcome him back?  And what about Gwynette . . . surely she has wed by now.  Either way, she will never desire nor recognize this shell of a man as her once almost fiance. 

Mary Balogh has rendered an emotionally charged story of love, family, acceptance and forgiveness in Remember Love.  Breathtaking descriptions draw readers into the time period and landscape of a beautifully delivered, powerful tale of shattered illusions and lost dreams.  They say you can never go home again, but Devlin has no choice in the matter.  He must face what he sees as his own failings and piece his broken family back together again.  What he learns along the way proves to be a lesson in the power of real love.  The family dynamics are complex with Devlin's siblings each struggling with their own issues.  Balogh does a masterful job of exploring the acceptable social customs of men vs. women in this time period as well as the many phases and types of love.  Remember Love is a great start to the Ravenwood Series.  I highly recommend it to fans of historical romance.

Synopsis:

The handsome and charismatic Earl of Stratton, Caleb Ware, has been exposed to the ton for his clandestine affairs—by his own son.

As a child, Devlin Ware thought his family stood for all that was right and good in the world. They were kind, gracious, and shared the beauty of Ravenwood, their grand country estate, by hosting lavish parties for the entire countryside. But at twenty-two, he discovered his whole world was an elaborate illusion, and when Devlin publicly called his family to account for it, he was exiled as a traitor.

So be it. He enlisted in the fight against Napoleon and didn’t look back for six years. But now his father is dead, the Ware family is broken, and as the heir he is being called home. It’s only when Gwyneth Rhys—the woman he loved and then lost after his family banished him—holds out her hand to help him that he is able make the difficult journey and try to piece together his fractured family.

It is Gwyneth’s loyalty, patience, and love that he needs. But is Devlin’s war-hardened heart even capable of offering her love in return?

Author Mary Balogh (photo courtesy of Sharon Pelletier)

Mary Balogh has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series. Learn more online at marybalogh.com.

Excerpt from Remember Love:

But Gwyneth scarcely noticed. For Devlin, elegantly dressed in a dark blue tailed evening coat with gray knee breeches and white waistcoat, stockings, shirt, and neckcloth, was standing before her and extending a hand for hers.

“Gwyneth?” he said. “My dance, I believe?”

He was not smiling. Not openly, at least. But there was a glow in his eyes and behind his face that suggested he was smiling inside. Not just a social smile, but something for her alone. Or so she fancied. Ah, she had so looked forward to this moment, and now it was here. She set her hand on his, palm to palm, and he closed his fingers about it and led her to the head of a new set, the original one having already stretched the full length of the ballroom. She stood next to Susan Ware, Devlin’s cousin, in the line of ladies while he took his place opposite her next to Dr. Isherwood in the line of men. He continued to look at her across the space between them with that same expression. Almost, she thought, as if he wanted to devour her. It was a look that sent shivers of pleasure through her body. She smiled back with all the sparkle that was inside her, and his eyes crinkled at the corners.

Soon there were four long parallel lines of dancers, two of women, two of men. A few adults, mostly elderly people, and a crowd of children stood or sat off to the sides, watching. Gwyneth remembered those days of childhood and the longing to be grown up and able to participate.

The orchestra struck a chord and the dancing began.

The pounding of several dozen feet on the wooden floor set a rhythm with the music of violins and cello and flute and pianoforte while partners joined hands and promenaded to their left and then to their right, both pairs of lines moving in unison with one another. They formed arches of hands with their immediate neighbors like mini maypoles as they paced in a full circle, changed hands, and paced back again. At the end of each pattern of steps the couple at the head of the line joined hands crosswise, and twirled down between the lines to take their places at the foot before the whole thing began again.

Devlin smiled fully at Gwyneth as they twirled, the first couple in their line to do so, and she laughed while everyone else in the lines clapped in time to the music. The earl was laughing in his own set as he twirled the countess. And ah, she had never, ever been happier, Gwyneth thought. Not even this afternoon in the rose arbor. As happy, maybe, but not more so. How absolutely . . . exhilarating it was to be eighteen years old and in love and full of hope that perhaps she was loved in return.

But inevitably the music came to an end, and there was only a leftover ball to enjoy for the rest of the evening. She tried not to feel sad about it. How ungrateful that would be.

“Thank you, Gwyneth,” Devlin said as he offered his arm and led her in the direction of her parents, who had danced the set together. “Have you promised every other dance?”

“Only the next and the one after it,” she told him.

“Are you willing to keep the set after supper for me?” he asked.

She looked at him in surprise. The Wares never danced more than one set with the same partner, either at this annual ball or at the Christmas ball or at any of the assemblies. It was a point of strict etiquette with them.

“Yes,” she said.

“It will be dark by then and the air ought to be cooler,” he said. “Perhaps we can step outside.”

Step outside? To dance on the terrace? To take a stroll beyond it? He did not elaborate.

“I would enjoy that,” she said. She had not noticed until this moment how breathless the dancing had made her.

“As would I,” he said.

 

Excerpted from Remember Love by Mary Balogh Copyright © 2022 by Mary Balogh. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.